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The programme will have over 200 political, economic and cultural events talking place across the USA where the Irish Embassy in Washington and Irish Consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago, Austin, Atlanta and San Francisco will play leading roles.

Over 200 commemorative events will take place across the United States in the course of the year, including over 70 events in New York. The centrepiece will be a three week Irish Arts Festival taking place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC from 16 May to 5 June which will celebrate a century of Irish arts and culture.

Other events taking place across the US include:
- Nationwide: Tour of ‘The Plough & the Stars’ (Abbey Theatre)
- Newport Beach, California: Irish spotlight at the 2016 Newport Beach Film Festival
- Minnesota, Chicago: The Irish Fair of Minnesota will sponsor an Irish Arts Week centred on the Easter Rising
- Notre Dame, Indiana: Gala premiere of ‘The Irish Rebellion’ film produced by the University of Notre Dame
- Boston, Massachusetts: ‘A Terrible Beauty is Born’ conference hosted by Boston College
- New York: Landmark conference in April at Glucksman Ireland House and a pioneering exhibition at the American Irish Historical Society
- Waco, Texas: Writer Sebastian Barry and historian Prof. Roy Foster will participate in an Easter Rising Centenary Symposium at Baylor University

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, launched the programme of events taking place across the USA to commemorate the 1916 Rising and the programme for the Greater New York Region.

Speaking from New York, Minister Flanagan stated:

“A consistent feature of the century since the 1916 Rising is the importance of the relationship between Ireland and the United States. It is significant that America is the only foreign country expressly referenced in the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, which itself has echoes of the American Declaration of Independence. Five of the seven signatories to the Proclamation spent periods of time here that deeply influenced their thinking and actions. It is therefore fitting that a rich programme of events commemorating the Rising will take place this year, right across the United States.”

“The United States is home to the greatest concentration of our Diaspora and the ties are of extraordinary depth and breadth. I know the USA 2016 Programme is going to resonate with Ireland’s diaspora and friends right across the United States – that is evident already from the enthusiasm shown about today’s launches and in the hugely positive reaction from community, cultural, academic and business groups in putting these ambitious programmes together.

The Star Wars crew 'needed to find somwhere from another time and place' and when they were allowed film on UNESCO World Heritage site Skellig Michael, J.J.Abrams, director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, said "I can't believe they let us shoot there. It was so beautiful".

When J.J.Abrams first saw a picture of the Skellig islands, forwarded from an email from Rick Carter, he said he loved it.

The director and members of his crew speak about the reasons behind why Skellig Michael was the perfect fit.

The crew knew that they needed an 'authentic' and 'realistic' setting as 'places matter' in Star Wars films.

Skellig Michael, also known as Great Skellig, is an island of the coast of County Kerry, west of the Iveragh Peninsula. Famous for the monastic beehive huts, the site is believed to have been first occupied by Saint Fionán in the 6th century, although the first historic reference is from the 8th century with the island abandoned in the 12th or 13th century.

In addition to the historical background, the islands also boast some of the largest collections of manx sheerwater and puffins in the world.

Check out the director and crew talking about why they chose the island for a significant section of the film.

The O'Connor family from West Limerick welcomed home their daughter Carmel from Brisbane, Australia for the first time in four years. There was a surprise welcome for Carmel with performance from Draíoct, a folk group which includes her brother Jack.

Damien Dempsey praises the talent of Róisin Seoighe, winner of Preda’s Freedom Day Song Competition 2015!

When leading musician and Preda advocate Damien Dempsey proposed the idea of a nationwide song competition for primary and secondary school students I don’t think that even he would have realised the passion for music and justice that exists among the youth of Ireland.

Róisín Seoighe, a 16 year old Transition Year student in Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, Carraroe, Co. Galway won the competition with her own “Freedom Song” which was inspired by the plight of the children being rescued by Preda in the Philippines. Her song is written in both Irish and English was produced by Willow Sea Studios with the video directed by Kamil Krolak of “Fifty People One Question Galway” fame.

“Freedom Song” is being released on iTunes in the coming days. Róisín has asked that all proceeds from the single are to be donated to Preda to help feed, educate and give the rescued children a second chance at childhood.

Fr. Shay Cullen, charity founder, described the song as an “emotive and evocative masterpiece”. On first hearing Róisín’s “Freedom Day” song Damien Dempsey admitted to being overcome with emotion feeling that this young song writer truly connected with the plight of the children Preda rescue. No doubt “Damo” will check out her song “Bog Amach” which is her unique take on “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift when he joins Róisín and her class for a few songs in Carraroe in the New Year!

Please Like the song on Facebook, Tweet it, Download it and get “Freedom Song” into the charts this Christmas! #ChristmasforChildren

Preda Ireland is a voluntary organisation so all money raised goes directly to the children. Follow PREDA Ireland on Facebook, on Twitter @Preda Ireland or checkout www.predaireland.org for more information. PREDA is a registered charity No. 16815